Process for preparing leather for razor strops and like devices



Patented June 24, 1924.

UNETED STATES mea re T orFicE- GEORGE H. EENDLETGN, OF WIGHITA, KANSAS.

PROCESS FOR- EREPARING- LEATHER FOR RAZOR STROPS' AND LIKE DEVICES.

N 0 Drawing.

To all whom it may concern- Be it known that I, GEOPGE H. PnNnLn- TON, acitizen of the United States, residing at Wichita, in the county ofSedgwick and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Processes of Preparing Leather for Razor Strops and likeDevices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to processes of preparing and tanning raw hides,and particularly to means for producing leather designed for use asstrops, hones, or like devices.

The general object of my invention is to so tan and prepare raw hides asto produce a leather which is particularly adapted for use in theformation of strops by reason of the fact that the leather isimpregnated with an abradant.

A further object is to provide a process for treating leather for thepurpose described whereby in the process of tanning the leather shallbecome impregnated with abrading material, such as oxide of iron,tripoli, carborundum, or equivalent abradants, and to provide a processof this character whereby the abradant will settle into the pores of thehide or leather, acting as a filler therefor and making the leathersolid and durable and rendering it particularly valuable as a stroppingmaterial.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

In the carrying out of my process, I take a fresh hide and initiallyprepare it by removing all the loose flesh and grease. The hide is thenplaced in a strong solution of lime water which causes the hair to slipoff easily within from twelve to twenty-four hours. After the hide hasremained within the lime water, for the requisite time, the hide isrinsed in clear water and all the hair removed. The hide is again placedin clear water for the purpose of soaking out the lime and this water ischanged twice a.

day until all the lime is soaked out from the hide, which will take fromtwelve to thirtysix hours, depending upon the thickness of the hide.When the lime has been entirely removed from the hide, the hide is readyfor the tanning solution, which may be prepared in the following mannerTo four gallons of water, five pounds of japonica (an extract ofcatechu) is added, and the Watt? and japOIliGfl. are boiled until SerialNo. 556,076.

thoroughly dissolved. Then add four gallons of water to the solution andalso add to the solution. one pound of red oxide of iron, one-eighthpound of tripoli, and one-half pound of carborundum. These ingredientsare stirred into the water until a thorough mixture is secured. The hideis placed in the tanning solution and completely covered thereby andallowed to remain until tanned and saturated through and through. Two orthree times a day the hide should be taken out of the solution and airedfor a few minutes. Complete tanning will take from three to ten days,according to the thickness of the hide. When the hide has beensufficiently colored and saturated through and through, it is taken outof the solution, laid on a smooth table, rubbed out perfectly smooth,and when it commences to dry it is oiled thoroughly with parafiin oil.When the hide is thoroughly dry it is finished.

Japonica effects the principal part of the tanning operation in thisprocess and particularly acts to Open up the pores of the hide. Anyother tanning solution which will accomplish the same end is within thepurview of my invention, though I prefer to use japonica. The red oxideof iron mixed with the tripoli and .carborundum by being very finelypowdered or pulverized settles into the pores of the hide or leather andacts as a filler, makes the leather solid and durable, and particularlyimpregnates the pores of the leather with an abrading agent so thatleather so treated makes a Very fine sharpening material and isparticularly adapted for stropping razor blades or fine cutlery.Parafiin oil makes the hide soft, pliable and water-resisting.

I do not wish to be limited to the particular tanning solution. used,nor to the particular abrading agents with which the hide isimpregnated, as other finely pulverized abrading agents might be used. Ihave found, however, in actual practice that the several abrading agentsabove referred to are particularly valuable, for the following reasonsRed oxide of iron is a very fine powder and settles into the pores ofthe hide and acts not only as an abrading agent but also as a fillerfor'the leather which does not harden it. The three abrading agent whichI use have no effect on the japonica, and while my experience has shownme that it is best to have the three abrading agents to.

gether, I do not Wish to be, limited to this, as the tripoli, forinstance, may be left out. The red oxide of iron helps to color thetanning solution. If the tripoli is left out, more oxide of iron shouldbe used, enough to make up the amount of tripoli. Carborundum if usedalone does not make as smooth a surface as when combined with the oxideof iron. Any tanning solution may be used which does not contain acids.I use japonice, however, as it is easy to obtain and com monly used inthe tanning of leather. The paraffin oil is more penetrating and gives amuch smoother surface for stropping purposes than other gums and oilscommonly used in finishing leather and at the same time does not gum. Byrubbing the leather perfectly smooth while it is yet Wet from thetanning solution, I secure a better finish than I otherwise would.

1. A tanning and hide impregnating solution consisting of Water,japonice, oxide of iron, tripoli, and carborunduni.

A tanning; solution consisting of the following" ingredients in thefollowing proportions: 8 gallons of Water, 5 pounds of japonica, 1 poundof oxide of iron, 1' pound of tripoli. and pound oi cerborundum.

signature.

GEORGE H. PENDLETON.

